"Well, don't let us lose any if you can prevent it," said the captain; and Johannes smiled, and then answered Steve's questions, as he busily made ready for the coming fight by thrusting the lance heads well up into the box which protected them from injury right up toward the bows, and then examined the harpoon head and shank round which the line was firmly secured. "How long is the line, Johannes?" "About fifteen fathoms, sir." "Oh, but isn't that too short? Suppose the walrus comes to the end of the line after being harpooned. It would pull the boat under." "No, sir," said the man, smiling, "because then we should cut the line." "But that would be a pity. Why not have it longer?" "Because it would only be in the way, sir. A walrus seldom takes out fifteen fathoms when it dives after being struck." "How's that?" "Before it has run out that much it has to come up again to breathe." "I see. But suppose it swims away along the surface?" "Ah! you'll see then, sir," said Johannes, smiling, "if I am lucky enough to harpoon one." Steve was silent for the time as, in obedience to the captain's orders, the men rowed gently toward a huge bull which lay on the ice, displaying a magnificent pair of tusks. But suddenly something took the boy's attention, and he seized the Norseman's arm. "Look!" he cried. "How lucky I saw! That harpoon is not fastened to the shaft." "No, sir. It ought not to be." "But why? Won't it come off when you throw it?" "I hope so, sir; we don't want it broken. Don't you see that the line is fastened to the head? We want the shaft to come out and float on the water, so that we can pick it up and use it again. It is almost the same as with the harpoons for the beluga." "Oh, I see. But wouldn't they be better if they were made thicker?" "No, sir," said the man, giving the harpoon head a twist and taking it easily from the pointed end of the light pine shaft and replacing it. "That is just right, sir." Steve gave the Norseman a droll look. "I say," he whispered, "what an ignorant fellow you must think me!" "No," said the man, smiling. "You did not understand the things that long experience has taught us are the best; but they are very simple, and you know them now." "Yes, I know now. But tell me one more thing, and then I will not bother you any more." "Quick, then," said the Norseman good-humouredly. "I want to know how near you have to get before you throw." "We don't throw the harpoon at all if we can help it," replied Johannes, "but get close enough to thrust it into the seal, give it a twist to entangle it in the tough hide, and draw out the shaft." "Oh, look!" said Steve in a disappointed tone; for, when they were about a hundred yards away, the big bull raised his head, stared at them, and then shuffled off the block on which he lay, gave two or three heavy flops, and slid down softly into the water.